Rotary International District 5170

I am 32 years old, was born in Kumamoto City in the Kyusyu Island, located in the western part of Japan. In 1991, I entered into Sophia University in Tokyo. I majored in law, especially the issues related with environment. From May 1994 to March 1995, I had stayed in England and studied law at Keele University.

After graduating from Sophia University in 1996, I started working as a staff writer for the Nishinippon Shinbun Newspaper, which publishes about 800,000 copies of newspaper daily in the Kyusyu Island. I have reported various kinds of daily news of the area, such as crimes, traffic accidents, local politics and social welfare. I also worked as a member of the editorial section.

Since August 2004, I have belonged to the City News Section of the head office in Fukuoka City, and have written articles mainly about the climate, natural disaster and medical issues. Last November, I visited Niigata Prefecture; the northern part of Japan, to report about the victims of the big earthquake hit the area in October 2004, even 4 though it was the disaster outside the Kyusyu Island. As a writer, my goal is to write articles focusing on the vulnerable people in the society such the elderly.

I enjoy watching sports, especially baseball and England football. I live in Fukuoka City with my wife, Makiko, and 3-year-old daughter, Suzuno.